Equitable and Effective Distribution of the COVID-19 Vaccines – A Scientific and Moral Obligation

Document Type : Editorial

Authors

1 Vice Chancellor’s Office, University of Global Health Equity, Kigali, Rwanda

2 Partners in Health, Boston, MA, USA

Abstract

The rapid development of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines has not been met with the assurance of an effective and equitable global distribution mechanism. Low-income countries are especially at-risk, with the price of the vaccines and supply shortages limiting their ability to procure and distribute the vaccines. While the COVAX initiative is one of the solutions to these challenges, vaccine nationalism has resulted in the hoarding of vaccines and the signing of parallel bilateral deals, undermining this formerly promising initiative. Moreover, inequity in local distribution also remains a problem, with clear discrimination of minorities and lack of logistical preparation in some countries. As we continue to distribute the COVID-19 vaccines, pharmaceutical companies should share their technology to increase supply and reduce prices, governments should prioritize equitable distribution to the most at- risk in all nations and low-income countries should bolster their logistical capacity in preparation for mass vaccination campaigns.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. Kelland LB Kate. Analysis: Can first COVID-19 vaccines bring herd immunity? Experts have doubts. Reuters. November 18, 2020. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-immunity-analysis-idUSKBN27Y124. Accessed February 2, 2021.
  2. Zimmer C, Corum J, Wee S-L. Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker. The New York Times. June 10, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/science/coronavirus-vaccine-tracker.html. Accessed January 25, 2021.
  3. WHO. WHO lists two additional COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use and COVAX roll-out. https://www.who.int/news/item/15-02-2021-who-lists-two-additional-covid-19-vaccines-for-emergency-use-and-covax-roll-out. Published February 15, 2021. Accessed February 18, 2021.
  4. Mullard A. How COVID vaccines are being divvied up around the world. Nature. 2020. doi:10.1038/d41586-020-03370-6
  5. Chigwedere P, Seage GR 3rd, Gruskin S, Lee TH, Essex M. Estimating the lost benefits of antiretroviral drug use in South Africa. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2008;49(4):410-415. doi:10.1097/qai.0b013e31818a6cd5
  6. Fidler DP. Negotiating equitable access to influenza vaccines: global health diplomacy and the controversies surrounding avian influenza H5N1 and pandemic influenza H1N1. PLoS Med. 2010;7(5):e1000247. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000247
  7. Coronavirus: WHO chief criticises “shocking” global vaccine divide. BBC News. April 10, 2021. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-56698854. Accessed April 18, 2021.
  8. Hill A, Khoo S, Fortunak J, Simmons B, Ford N. Minimum costs for producing hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals for use in large-scale treatment access programs in developing countries. Clin Infect Dis. 2014;58(7):928-936. doi:10.1093/cid/ciu012
  9. OECD. Research and development in the pharmaceutical sector. https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/content/component/health_glance-2017-72-en. Published 2017.
  10. Berkley S. COVAX explained. https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/covax-explained. Accessed January 26, 2021. Published September 2, 2020.
  11. GAVI, CEPI, WHO. COVAX announces additional deals to access promising COVID-19 vaccine candidates; plans global rollout starting Q1 2021. https://www.who.int/news/item/18-12-2020-covax-announces-additional-deals-to-access-promising-covid-19-vaccine-candidates-plans-global-rollout-starting-q1-2021. Accessed January 28, 2021. Published December 18, 2020.
  12. WHO Team: ACT Accelerator. Access to COVID-19 tools funding commitment tracker. https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/access-to-covid-19-tools-tracker. Accessed April 18, 2021. Published April 9, 2021.
  13. Oxfam International. Campaigners warn that 9 out of 10 people in poor countries are set to miss out on COVID-19 vaccine next year. Oxfam International website. https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/campaigners-warn-9-out-10-people-poor-countries-are-set-miss-out-covid-19-vaccine. Accessed January 28, 2021. Published December 9, 2020.
  14. Soy A. Africa’s long wait for the Covid-19 vaccine. BBC News. January 22, 2021. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55751714. Accessed January 28, 2021.
  15. UNICEF. COVID-19 Vaccine Market Dashboard. https://bit.ly/3vd7S4r. Accessed April 18, 2021. Published April 18, 2021.
  16. Dyer O. Covid-19: Many poor countries will see almost no vaccine next year, aid groups warn. BMJ. 2020;371:m4809. doi:10.1136/bmj.m4809
  17. GAVI. New collaboration makes further 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine available to low- and middle-income countries. https://www.gavi.org/news/media-room/new-collaboration-makes-further-100-million-doses-covid-19-vaccine-available-low. Accessed January 28, 2021. Published September 29, 2020.
  18. Recht H, Weber L. Black Americans Are Getting Vaccinated at Lower Rates Than White Americans. Kais Health News. January 2021. https://khn.org/news/article/black-americans-are-getting-vaccinated-at-lower-rates-than-white-americans/. Accessed February 2, 2021.
  19. O’Donnell C. Cold storage is the main hurdle to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine | World Economic Forum. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/11/pfizer-vaccine-covid19-cornavirus-storage-hospital-healthcare/. Accessed January 28, 2021. Published November 11, 2020.
  20. WHO Afro. Rolling out COVID-19 vaccines in Rwanda. WHO, Regional Office for Africa. https://www.afro.who.int/news/rolling-out-covid-19-vaccines-rwanda. Accessed April 18, 2021. Published April 8, 2021.
International Journal of Health Policy and Management
Volume 11, Issue 2
February 2022
Pages 100-102

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 05 February 2021
  • Revise Date: 18 April 2021
  • Accept Date: 19 April 2021
  • First Publish Date: 26 April 2021

Share

How to cite

Statistics